US soldier and British soldier die during training in Iraq

A US soldier and a British soldier died during a training exercise at an air base in Irbil, northern Iraq. Officials released few details pending family notifications. The incident comes as the US maintains a reduced military presence while strengthening ties with Iraqi Kurdistan

Washington: One American soldier and one British soldier died during a training exercise in Iraq, US and UK officials said on Monday without releasing further details.

The deaths occurred Sunday at an air base in Irbil in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, where the US has retained a presence, the US Army said in a post on X. The statement said the soldier’s identity is being withheld until 24 hours after his or her family has been notified.

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The UK’s Ministry of Defence said in a separate post that the family of the British soldier has been notified and requested a “period of grace” before more details are released.

The US has been reducing the number of troops countering the Islamic State group in Iraq. But American forces have retained a presence in the Kurdish region as the US seeks to strengthen ties with the Kurds.

The US inaugurated a large new consulate compound in December in Irbil, the capital of the Kurdish region, highlighting Washington’s diplomatic and strategic engagement in the area.

The deaths occurred nearly a month after two American soldiers fell off a cliff and died during an off-duty recreational hike in Morocco. They were reported missing May 2 after participating in African Lion, an annual multinational military exercise.